In fact, the current Dutch team have been uncharacteristically pragmatic en route to the final, casting aside their nearly-men tag with a series of hard-fought victories.

"If you would have told me then what would happen here, I simply would not have believed it," Robben said. "In the past, we heard often enough how beautiful it was, but there was no payback. So far, it has produced.

"We have yet to show our most beautiful football. But we have always been able to fall back on a good organisation."

Despite his impressive performances in the knockout rounds, Robben claims he is still struggling with his hamstring.

"I am not yet at my peak, but that is because, every now and then, I still feel pain," Robben said. "I can play but it is just that I still play with pain. It is getting better but it has not been ideal."